Technology Can Make Caregiving Easier; Find Out More at Elder Care Expo 2008

[30 April 2008 - Elder Care Expos, LLC] For many years, the telephone was about the only technology that supported families in caring for elderly parents. These days, cutting-edge technologies – that use the Internet, telephones, TVs, cameras, sensors and more – help keep people safe on a 24-hour basis with automatic contact with family and medical staff.

Elder Care Expo 2008 ( http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com ) will feature technologies that can help improve the quality of later life by keeping people more independent and in their homes longer. The Expo will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

Some of the more than 90 educational seminars and more than 100 exhibitors will be showcasing technologies such as monitoring sensors, assistive listening devices, brain-based memory software and more.

Sensors are one example of technology being used within spaces, such as homes, to give elders options for living with independence, autonomy and dignity – without forgoing safety and security.

"Caregivers gain peace of mind knowing their loved one will quickly have a responder if they are in need of assistance," says Sue Gronemeyer, director of operations for Sengistix, LLC, which is an Elder Care Expo exhibitor that provides wireless sensing technology.

Multiple sensors can send activities-of-daily-living reports and safety alerts in real-time via the monitoring company to family, staff or support persons. The sensor system can call automatically when the individual needs assistance, even if they cannot call, from anywhere in the residence. Sensors can monitor whether a person gets out of bed, opens the refrigerator for a meal, gets enough movement during the day, takes medication and more.

Other technologies are placed on the individual person, such as life-line monitors that can be used to contact help if a person falls or is having an immediate medical problem. Other devices help people who have hearing loss.

"If you or a family member has a hearing loss, you know that it can be more than a minor annoyance," says Lori Foss, marketing director, Harris Communications. "Having to continually repeat what you are saying can be frustrating. In addition, those with hearing loss often become isolated from friends and family. But there are many different technologies that can improve the quality of life for the person with hearing loss."

An assistive listening device (ALD) can provide hearing assistance for those with a hearing loss, especially for someone without a hearing aid or when a hearing aid is not enough. ALDs include tools such as an amplified telephone, infrared system, FM system, personal amplification system, or loud clock. People can try out these different devices at Harris Communications' booth during Elder Care Expo.

Elder Care Expo will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors make better decisions about elder care choices. Find more information about the Expo by visiting http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo Sponsors include: Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, Vital Aging Network, and the University of Minnesota Center on Aging.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

Twin Cities suburban trend: Silver-lined home market

Elder Care Expo 2008 sponsor, Presbyterian Homes, featured in Star Tribune story today about senior housing in the Twin Cities suburbs:

[23 April 2008 - Star Tribune] In a suburban housing market chilled by recession and mortgage woes, one segment of housing is still hot: independent housing for seniors. In the development pipeline are almost 600 units in Bloomington, more than 700 units in Edina, and about 145 units in Richfield. Roseville's first housing development proposal in three years is a 93-unit senior co-op that would be the sister to a successful co-op built a few years ago. Demand is highest for ownership and rental units aimed at middle-income seniors. But in suburbs where open land is limited and the population skews older -- places like Edina, Richfield, Roseville and Bloomington, where at least a quarter and sometimes more than a third of single-family homes are owned by people 65 and older -- how much senior housing should be developed? "That's what a lot of communities are wondering about," said Ron Rankin, Minnetonka's community development director. ...

The State Demographer's Office predicts that by 2035, the Twin Cities' 65-and-over population will increase by 145 percent. Historically, about 60 percent of housing here has been single-family homes, according to the Metropolitan Council. The council has suggested that half of all new housing added by 2030 be "attached housing" like condos, townhouses or apartments. With senior housing targeting people from ages 55 to 90, developments range from maintenance-free townhouses and co-ops for active residents to assisted-living and memory-care units. Presbyterian Homes & Services alone has recently opened or is planning suburban Twin Cities developments that include about 800 units for independent seniors. Ecumen, another large nonprofit specializing in senior housing and services, is doing a condo conversion in Cannon Falls that will include 40 senior apartments, and also is planning a senior development in Maple Grove with 96 apartments for active seniors. Eventually townhomes will be added. More

Elder Care Expo Attendees to Receive Free "Caregiving Choices" Guide from Minnesota Senior Federation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Paul, Minn., April 24, 2008 -- The Minnesota Senior Federation has just released its "Caregiving Choices: A Minnesota Elder Care Resource Guide" and has partnered with Elder Care Expo 2008 to provide a free copy of this publication to everyone who attends the Expo.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn. The Expo will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors make better decisions about elder care choices. More information is available at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/

"Caregiving Choices" provides information about caregiving at home, in nursing homes, at adult day-care service centers and in assisted-living and senior housing. It also includes a handy directory of crucial caregiving resources.

Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Non-professional caregivers are a critical part of the healthcare system in the United States. In Minnesota, family members provide 95 percent of all caregiving for older adults and there are more than a half-million caregivers in the state.

The Senior Federation Health Plan Information Center helps caregivers help their loved ones. In addition to "Caregiving Choices," the Senior Federation also publishes "Health Care Choices for Minnesotans on Medicare," which provides even more resources related to healthcare questions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will provide face-to-face answers to many questions that boomers have about planning for their own futures, as well as challenges they face in caring for an aging parent. In addition, seniors can find products and services to support their own care now, as well as for their spouses.

"Everyone has a caregiving story to tell," says Elder Care Expos Co-Founder Julie Groshens. "We want to help people make sure their story unfolds in the best possible way by finding the resources they need to make better decisions. People don't have to go it alone. Elder Care Expo 2008 offers resources, answers, solutions in one place, under one roof. Plus, they can go home with the 'Caregiving Choices' guide to help them in the future."

Find more information about Elder Care Expo 2008, the more than 100 exhibitors, and more than 90 seminars by visiting http://www.choosingeldercare.com/ or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo 2008 Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, Vital Aging Network, and the University of Minnesota Center on Aging.

About Elder Care Expo:
Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the
finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:
http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

For More Information, Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

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The Creative Power of Aging Film Premiere in Minnesota

Elder Care Expo 2008 congratulates the Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network, a Supporting Partner of Elder Care Expo 2008, on the coming premiere of their new film about creativity, arts and aging, based on artists and program models from Minnesota ...

[24 April 2008 - Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network (MnCAAN)] Check out the April 23 MinnPost article about aging and the arts, "We want more than bingo': Artists cater to seniors" by Kay Harvey. It highlights the work of MnCAAN, the National Center for Creative Aging, and two Twin Cities community arts programs for older adults.

Second, you are invited to the premiere of "The Creative Power of Aging" to view this 30-minute film featuring Minnesota artists and model arts programs for older adults:
Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Bloomington Center for the Arts - 1800 West Old Shakopee Road

Following the film, stay for lunch and the kickoff of a statewide campaign by MnCAAN: CREATIVITY MATTERS FOR OLDER MINNESOTANS. Discover the benefits of lifelong creative engagement. Learn about training, print and Web-based resources for organizations and groups that want to engage older adults in creative arts programs. Register by May 12 at http://www.MnCAAN.net or call 763-560-5199. $10 includes box lunch. Pre-registration required.

The film was a collaborative production with MnCAAN, Twin Cities Public Television, HealthEast, Ebenezer Foundation, and the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. This event is co-sponsored and hosted by City of Bloomington Human Services. More

Find about more about MnCAAN and the film at Elder Care Expo 2008, Booth 322.

Richard Leider Offers New Book on Purposeful Aging

[24 April 2008 - The Inventure Group] The Inventure Group is excited to announce the upcoming release of Richard Leider's newest book, Something To Live For: Find Your Way in the Second Half of Life. Co-authored by David Shapiro, the book has a June publication date. Something to Live For distills traditional wisdom and modern research to offer those now moving past 50 new ways of thinking about their lives. The book is filled with dozens of inspiring personal stories about people who, in very different ways, have found meaning, purpose and fulfillment in the second half of life. More

New National Ad Campaign Features the Theme "Real Men Wear Gowns"; Encouraging Men To Take Preventive Steps in Their Health Care

[22 April 2008 - U.S. Administration On Aging eNews Letter] AHRQ and Ad Council Encourage Men To Take Preventive Steps in Their Health Care ... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) joined with The Advertising Council today to launch a national public service campaign designed to raise awareness among middle-aged men about the importance of preventive medical testing. Men are 25 percent less likely than women to have visited the doctor within the past year and are 38 percent more likely than women to have neglected their cholesterol tests (Source: AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 2005). Furthermore, men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005). The campaign highlights the work of the AHRQ-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which is an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence of effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services. Created pro bono for the Ad Council by McCann Erickson Detroit, the public service advertising campaign includes new television, radio, print and Web advertising featuring the theme "Real Men Wear Gowns." The lighthearted ads incorporate family as a key motivating factor for men to take a more active role in preventive health. They show the target audience that being a real man means taking care of themselves (and their health) in order to be there for their families and in the future. Ad Council research showed this was a strong motivating factor for men. The campaign encourages men to visit a comprehensive Web site, http://www.ahrq.gov/realmen. The site provides the recommended ages for preventive testing (as well as a list of tests), a quiz designed to test your knowledge of preventive health care, tips for talking with your doctor, a glossary of consumer health terms, and links to online resources where you can find more medical information.

The Odds for a Retirement Nest Egg, Recalculated

[21 April 2008 - New York Times] Though it may go against conventional wisdom, you can simply pick an allocation of stocks and bonds that you can live with for a long while and stick with it. More

Elder Care Expo 2008 to Help Minnesotans Make Better Healthcare Decisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Dahlberg
Elder Care Expos, LLC
info@choosingeldercare.com
(651) 204-0266

St. Paul, Minn., April 16, 2008 -- The U.S. Administration on Aging announced that today is National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). This nationwide initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for healthcare decisions and to encourage the use of advance directives to communicate important healthcare decisions.

Elder Care Expo 2008 will help Minnesota baby boomers, their parents and seniors begin to explore these questions - and more - during the expo, which will be held May 9 and 10, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day in the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Education Building in St. Paul, Minn.

Making end of life decisions can be an extremely difficult challenge. It is an important responsibility that people should be willing to assume for their own sake and the sake of their loved ones. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in the United States have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive.

The Administration on Aging wants to raise public awareness about the need for advance planning and help as many people as possible get the information they need to make choices and decisions that will ensure their dignity and care at the end of life. More information about NHDD is available online:
http://www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org/Welcome.htm

Find more information about Elder Care Expo 2008, the exhibitors, and more than 90 seminars by visiting http://www.ChoosingElderCare.com or by calling (651) 204-0266. Expo tickets are $8 per person and can be purchased online or at the door.

Elder Care Expo 2008 Sponsors include Augustana Care Corporation, Presbyterian Homes and Services, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Accra Care Inc., and WCCO Radio. Supporting Partners include Minnesota Senior Federation, Minnesota Adult Day Care Service Association, At Home Solutions, ElderCare Rights Alliance, and Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network.

NHDD is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions.

About Elder Care Expo: Elder Care Expo 2008 is produced by a team with more than 50 years of experience in consumer events, educational programming and gerontology. In addition, they have personally been involved with hospice volunteer work and caregiving to older family members, while raising children. Today, one in five adults is responsible for managing some aspect of the finances and/or healthcare of a family member who is 65 or older, and approximately 80 percent of home-care services are provided by family caregivers. Elder Care Expo is Minnesota's first educational event designed to bring together government agencies, nonprofits and private organizations under one roof and with one simple goal: helping baby boomers, their parents and seniors plan for and find solutions for their elder care challenges. Elder Care Expos, LLC, also publishes the Choosing Elder Care blog at:http://www.choosingeldercare.com/blog

National Healthcare Decisions Day

[16 April 2008 - U.S. Administration on Aging] National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is on Wednesday, April 16th. This nationwide initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions and to encourage the use of advance directives to communicate important health care decisions. NHDD is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions. Several aging services network organizations are currently participating in NHDD. Making end of life decisions can be an extremely difficult challenge. It is an important responsibility that each of us should be willing to assume for our sake and the sake of our loved ones. It is estimated that only about 20 percent of people in the United States have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive. We hope you will help raise public awareness about the need for advance planning. We want as many people as possible to have the information they need to make choices and decisions that will ensure their dignity and care at the end of life. More

White House Portraits of Compassion Video Contest

[2 April 2008 - Administration on Aging eNews Letter] The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives invites you to participate in the Portraits of Compassion video story contest. This contest is designed to shine a light on the countless caring Americans who offer help and hope to their neighbors in need as part of President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative. The mission of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is to strengthen both faith-based and other community-based service organizations and to grow government's collaboration with them to aid people in need. Over the past seven years, tens of thousands of partnerships have formed between government and dedicated nonprofits, extending service and hope to millions of needy individuals both at home and abroad. The Portraits of Compassion video story contest is a chance to honor this vital work and inspire others to service as well. Eligible applicants include any domestic or international nonprofit organization that has partnered with a federally-funded program since 2001 to serve the needy. Applications must include a "video story" of three minutes or less that can be uploaded on a free online video sharing service such as YouTube, Google Video, iTunes, or MySpace. All videos must be submitted as an Internet link by May 1, 2008. To learn more or to submit an application, visit http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/portraits/index.html. Winning videos will be premiered during the White House National Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C., on June 26 and 27, 2008 and showcased nationally on the Conference website. This Conference is free and open to the public. Online registration for the Conference is available at http://www.fbci.gov/ by clicking on the "Washington DC" conference link at the top right corner.